Kaduna State govt allegedly abandons boy who lost his eyes to ritualists in Zaria

Journalist Femi Owolabi shared this update on the boy via his Facebook page, saying the government hasn’t fulfilled its promise to sponsor the boy’s education. According to him;

I didn’t want to share this before, but I just have to, so that we are all aware.

Months ago, Abubakar Usman lost his two eyes to suspected ritualists in Zaria, Kaduna State. The wicked humans used knife and other sharp objects to cut off the innocent four years old boy’s eyes.

Since my recent journalistic focus is on reconstruction and resettlement of the internally displaced persons in the North-East, I didn’t really pay a keen attention to Abu’s case. Especially when I heard that the Kaduna State government, under the leadership of my friend, Nasir el-Rufai, had risen to the boy’s case– pledging to see to his welfare and education.

A very good friend, recently, raised Abu’s issue with me and insisted I go check on him. My friend is interested in Abu’s education.

“I wanna ensure this boy go to school so he becomes somebody in life,” my friend said.

For weeks, I was calling the Kaduna State Police PRO so I will be able to track Abu in Zaria. The officer wouldn’t pick my calls, neither did he return them. As a journalist, I then used other techniques to locating Abu and his family in Zaria.

I spent some moments with Abu and his family today in Zaria. In the coming week, I should publish a comprehensible report on Abu.

What saddens me? The Kaduna State government hasn’t redeemed its pledge; of taking care of Abu and seeing him through school! Abu has been abandoned! “We were only given N180, 000, and nothing else since then,” Usman, Abu’s father told me.

The good news? Help is on the way for Abu! I won’t leave Zaria until we enrol him in a school I found for him today!